“ratatouille” provided the theme for this year’s“ratatouille” provided the theme for this...
TRANSCRIPT
9th June 2016
Dear Parents
Welcome back to the second half of Trinity Term. This portion of the School year races by, so get ready
for an exciting time ahead!
French Day in Key Stage One
The Parisian restaurant setting of the film
“Ratatouille” provided the theme for this year’s
event, aimed to provide pupils in Sunnylands
Nursery, Reception, 1KS and 2MW with a fun
opportunity to use the French language.
Ratatouille is a French dish made of vegetables.
Although the name may suggest it, and although
many children dressed up as rats for the day, there is
indeed no rat ingredient in ratatouille!
There was a wealth of chefs, rats and very well disguised children.
A concert to share French songs each
class had learnt with each other took
place and “le Louvres” showcased
some lovely pictures created in
class.
Having learnt the names of vegetable in French
and talked about Paris and French food, children
played games based on the vocabulary. There
was also picture lotto, interactive games on the
whiteboard and Chefs’ hats were also made.
Nursery cut the vegetables necessary for the Ratatouille and it was cooked onsite for all to taste.
“Une bonne Journée française”was had by all!
A trip to Foxton Locks
The children from
1KS, 2MW and 3JC
followed up their
recent canal workshop
with a visit to Foxton
Locks. The sun shone
as our intrepid
explorers walked
along the tow path.
They were lucky to
find some friendly
people who were
living on a narrow
boat, who explained
what facilities they
had on board,
pointing out the solar
panels on the roof.
A ride on a boat along the canal provided a chance to spot many
interesting features, including the grooves in the brickwork made by
the ropes attached to the horses that used to pull the boats. After
disembarking, children watched a number of boats moving through the
locks. Their final walk was along a section of canal with lily pads
growing in abundance and a number of children were able to conclude
that the plants were able to grow because boats no longer used this
section of canal. This was a fact that they had remembered from their
workshop at School.
Key Stage Two Swimming Gala
Weekly swimming lessons at St Peter’s School aim to build up pupils’ stroke and footwork skills to the
standards set by the ASA (Amateur Swimming Association). Once these two skills areas are in place for
a variety of strokes then speed and stamina can also be built upon. Our annual Swimming Gala in Key
Stage Two sets up a competitive forum within which pupils’ swimming progress can be showcased, and
what a show of talent and resilience there was this year. For Year Three pupils, this was their first gala
and they certainly did themselves proud. We had superb swimming and effort from all of our pupils
taking part and as always, our parents were a fantastic crowd, cheering on each and every swimmer,
clapping unceasingly until all competitors reached their finish line. Thank you! Congratulations
Pitsford…but watch out, Rutland, Thorpe and Grafham are plotting their comeback at the forthcoming
Summer Games Day and Sports Day!
Adventures and Challenges on Residential 2016
The week before half term saw pupils in Year Five and Year Six being waved off (perhaps
apprehensively!) by their parents as they embarked upon a journey to Shugborough Entrust Adventure
Centre, along with Mr Holmes and myself. We were all to be spending five days and four nights in the
great outdoors of the stunning Staffordshire countryside.
What a time we had! We glamped in
yurts, and enjoyed all manner of outdoor
pursuits, as you will see from the
photographs!
The BMX biking was a big hit and the climbing brought a lot of fun too.
The blindfold trail really challenged pupils' team work and
listening skills-in a good way!
Canoeing and kayaking saw our crews
in the River Trent and on its canal.
This was a real challenge for
upper body strength and
mental stamina. There were
plenty of smiles at the end of
the session, by which time all
our adventurers had shown
super skills progression.
Another highlight was a stunning
walk across Shugborough Estate, our
knowledgeable guide sharing historical
and local information with the now
tiring team.
Activities were designed to build teams and skills as well as sensitively challenge children's courage and
determination. It worked! By the end of each day, Mr Holmes & Mrs Chapman were able to recount
achievements for each & every pupil. Well done to the team of Residential 2016. You smashed it!
Reception Class Assembly
Reception charmed their audience with their assembly performance, which told the story of ‘St Peter’s
Castle’. Theone Garwe and Maya Sieunarine took on the impressive challenge of narrating the assembly
and operating a microphone, and all pupils thoroughly enjoyed learning their lines to bring a taste of the
medieval period to 2016! The audience were able to learn what it was like to live in a castle; they were
quite surprised to hear that bear pie was amongst the food eaten at the time and amazed by the
gruesome tactics employed by attackers during battle, such as catapulting dead animals over the castle
walls! Reception Class danced beautifully to instrumental medieval music and concluded their assembly
by singing the song ‘Our Castle’ with great gusto.
Staffing Update
Mrs Cruickshank will play her last chords at St Ps at the end of this term as she is moving on to new
adventures. A new music coordinator and a new Year Three class teacher were recruited just before half
term. It is always sad to wave valued colleagues goodbye but it is equally exciting to see new teaching
teams forming in the School. Once all the regulatory safeguarding checks have been completed I will be
able to provide further details of our new teachers.
Summer Games Afternoons next week!
As per the School calendar, these much awaited afternoons will be upon us next week. Parents of Key
Stage Two pupils have received a letter by Parentmail with all the details so please read through the
information carefully. Pupils in KS2 come to school next Wed and Thurs wearing games kit WITH
HOUSE TSHIRT.
School photo on Tuesday
Don’t forget, the School Photograph is being taken again on Tuesday. We need super smart pupils.
Everyone needs to wear blazers. Long hair should be tied and clipped back. Girls wear summer dresses
and boys will need to be in grey regulation shorts. Shoes should be black and polished. As we are past
half term, it is now SHORT white socks for girls and SHORT grey socks for boys that are required.
Don’t forget your blazers…and polished shoes too!
PTAFA present Bugtopia
What excitement there was
when our Bugtopians got
their hands on the visitors
who came to St Ps just before
half term! Thank you to
PTAFA for hosting this truly
fantastic experience and
providing yet another
treasured memory for our
children.
PTAFA presents Pop Up Circus
Wow! Loads of tickets have been sold! Thank you, lovely parents of St
Ps for supporting something BIG like this, for a Pop Up Circus will not
be a regular event at St Ps! This really is a rare occasion, one your
child will really want to be taken to and another treasured school
memory made. Please don’t disappoint- get your tickets now, before
it’s too late!
Readathon On!
Reading for Readathon has started. I hope that pupils enjoy reading a wealth of facts and fiction and
that many families will opt to also support this charity.
We are all looking forward to tomorrow afternoon’s celebrations to mark the occasion of Her Majesty’s
90th birthday. Parents are reminded that tea and cakes will be served at 3.30pm in Sunnylands Hall so
do please come along. Children-don’t forget to bring your royal teddies tomorrow!
There will be a mini bulletin next week with a further sports update.
Yours sincerely
Maria Chapman MA(Ed) Headmistress